Who are Time to Change East Essex?

We are a social movement aiming to change the way people think and act about mental health in East Essex. We launched in February 2019.

Time to Change East Essex is made up of Time to Change Champions and Hub partners who develop, shape and deliver the Hub’s anti-stigma work.

Our area covers the following districts: Tendring, Colchester, Braintree, Chelmsford, Maldon, Castle Point, Rochford, Brentwood and Basildon.

How does Time to Change East Essex work?

We work with our Champions and partners to run local campaigns, events and activities to encourage more people to speak out about mental health.  Champions are people with lived experience of mental health problems. One of the best ways to challenge stigma and discrimination is by social contact: opportunities for people with lived experience of mental health problems to share these with the public in informal one-to-one conversations.

Talking about mental health is vital to breaking down stigma. Despite the progress made we know that many people still don’t feel comfortable speaking about mental health. That’s why we’re focusing our efforts on reaching more people within disadvantaged communities and those with lower incomes. Future priorities will include work with the older generation and young people.

We want to empower people in our community to take action to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination.

Time to Change East Essex at Colchester Pride

Social Contact at Colchester Pride, 19 June 2019

Interested in becoming a Champion?

If you live or work in East Essex and have your own personal experience of mental health problems and want speak out and reduce stigma, we want to hear from you.

We want to grow the number of Time to Change Champions in East Essex and will be recruiting, training and supporting Champions to engage with East Essex communities. You’ll also have access to our Champions Fund to help with costs towards events and activities.  

This is an opportunity to change how you and the next generation are treated, have your voice heard and be part of a wider movement.

Many of our champions have been through a difficult time and turned it into something positive, using what they have learnt to share their story with others.

If you would like to be a part of the development of your East Essex Hub and the campaign, please get in touch with the below contacts details.

Our Hub partners

The East Essex Time to Change Hub is made up of the following partners:

Contact: 

General enquiries: [email protected]

Hub coordinator: Tricia Berhardt, 01206 764600, [email protected]